The Year in Food 2012: Cookbooks

Lidia’s Favorite Recipes: 100 Foolproof Italian Dishes

by Lidia Bastianich

Released: October 16, 2012

Lidia Bastianich gives us a fresh look at her favorite dishes, the ones that have made it to the table time and time again: more than 100 of her signature recipes, revised to be more concise and clear, but just as soul-satisfying as ever.

I was quite surprised when a friend suggested I watch the original episodes on YouTube. In the British version, they have these wonderful history bits about what the contestants are baking. Thoroughly enjoyable. Not sure why PBS omitted them.

i missed the first 15 minutes and the first bake because the show started a half hour earlier than ever before ... probably because it's pledge month. Now the network won't allow me to view it online because I watch it in Canada and there is some problem with 'rights'. Boo to you PBS. You'll take my money but what do I get now?

You could use whatever chocolate bar or chips you prefer. The darker the chocolate, the higher the percentage. I'd use semi-sweet or milk choc. Amazon sells 36% chocolate if you really want it. Looks like they're calling it milk chocolate.